Moving out of the country

[seaboy4hire]

Hey there guys. I have been kicking around the idea of buying a house out of the country in South America and was wondering if anyone has done this? If so any advice would be greatly appreciated. I found an expatriate website that is chopped full of information but almost shorted my brain hehehehe. Just looking for a nice quiet place with tropical weather to retire to when the time comes.

 

Hugs,

Greg

 

Greg Seattle Wa [email protected]

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/gregseattle.html http://briefcase.yahoo.com/seaboy4hire

[trilingual]

Check out the "Escorts South of the U.S.A." board, including the FAQ. There is quite a lot of discussion there about exactlyl that issue, mainly concerning Brazil. Several regular M4M posters have recently settled in Brazil, either renting or buying homes here. AFTER reading the postings, you can contact them directly through the site if you have questions. Two who are currently doing this are Gulliver and Jake. I'm splitting my time between Brazil and the U.S. (mainly because of Brazilian tax and immigration rules) and I'm renting, with an option to buy.

 

South America offers options from the tropical to the Antarctic, with deserts, jungles, alpine lakes and ski resorts in the Southern Andes, great cities (including very European-looking-and-feeling Buenos Aires and Montevideo), beach resorts, historic old colonial towns, you name it!

 

Each country in South America has different immigration/tax rules, so you'll have to decide where you want to live and then check out the rules applying to those countries. That'll help you narrow down your choices. You also need to know what restrictions that country may have on foreign ownership of real estate. (Brazil, for example, has almost none, but others do.)

 

South American countries all operate under the civil law system (based on the Napoleonic code, like France, Louisiana and Quebec) so local real estate law is similar from country to country. It's not terribly different from U.S. law, except that there's no such thing as title insurance (at least not in Brazil). That means that when you buy a property, or even rent one, you'll need a reliable real estate lawyer who represents YOU to verify all the documentation. You have to be sure the person selling or renting the property really has ownership and the ability to sell/rent it, and to protect yourself from onerous contract provisions. Only a knowledgeable local lawyer can do that for you.

 

Other considerations, of course, include deciding on whether you want an urban vs. small town environment, GLBT-friendliness, your ability and willingness to learn Spanish or Portuguese (life here will be very complicated if you don't speak the language), whether your health insurance will cover you abroad, etc. So there are lots of factors to take into consideration before retiring abroad. But if you've been to South America before, know and love the place, and are sure you'll feel at home here in retirement, by all means go for it!

[trilingual]

RE: An Alternative. . .

 

For those who decide all the hassles of dealing with foreign law, health systems, etc. aren't worth it, you might want to remember that Puerto Rico is part of the United States. It's tropical and Spanish-speaking, yet operates under U.S. law. Your health insurance will cover you there. There are no immigration law issues. So check it out.

[eastbayguy]

>Hey there guys. I have been kicking around the idea of buying

>a house out of the country in South America and was wondering

>if anyone has done this? If so any advice would be greatly

>appreciated. I found an expatriate website that is chopped

>full of information but almost shorted my brain hehehehe. Just

>looking for a nice quiet place with tropical weather to retire

>to when the time comes.

 

Check out Costa Rica. One of the most spectacular places on Earth. Not far from home, you can return in a few hours if need be. The population of Costa Rica is very literate, and good medical care is available in country. The people are friendly and tolerant.

 

Most importantly, the laws are friendly to people from the United States going to Costa Rica to retire. If you are 55 or over, retired and meet a few other tests, you can live in Costa Rica tax free. There is a special pensioner tax bracket in the country designed to attract foreign wealth. Plus, property ownership laws are favorable. In some countries in South American, you can not own property. Costa Rica allows foreign property ownership.

 

Haven't been there myself in a few years, but have always liked Costa Rica a lot. Do check it out.

 

--EBG

[JamesK840]

>I found an expatriate website that is chopped

>full of information but almost shorted my brain hehehehe.

 

Maybe you could post a link?

[Guest Merlin]

Belize is English speaking and seems to have a stable government and friendly people. Costa Rica has the most stable democracy in Latin America. Would it not make more sense to rent when the time comes? You would keep your options open and be able to move if you dont like the place or the political situation becomes dangerous. Brazil has a government which is increasingly pro-Castro and anti-American.

[Guest Tomcal_]

>>...Brazil has a government which is increasingly pro-Castro and anti-American.<<

Don't confuse the posturing of Political Leaders with the overall feeling of the population. While Lula, the President of Brazil, was a left leaning union leader prior to his election, and said many things that would take on the appearance of what you stated above, once elected the tone moderated, and now he is having his own troubles dealing with the unions in Brazil! The people in Brazil are very friendly towards Americans!(as opposed to France where I was recently)

In 10 trips to Brazil in the past 2-1/2 years I have never had any indication of any animosity towards Americans. Although they will tell you they dont' like Bush and ask why are we in Iraq? I have been asked that quite a few times but that was as far as it got regarding politics! When they find out you are from the U.S., usually one of the first things they tell you is how they would like to visit here. I have stated before that I have found Brazilians to been one of the warmer, friendliest people I have encountered, and I am not referring to just the gay oriented groups, but Everyone!

[+ Axiom2001]

Tom is right on the money in what he stated above. During Carnaval of 2003, there was a huge parade in Ipanema; one float carried a banner that stated "Fuck Bush"; it did not address its remarks to this country or its people. Last October when I traveled to Salvador, Bahia, the first question that my guide of five days asked me centered on my personal thoughts of Bush.

 

Time and again, when conversation focused on America, it centered on Bush and nothing else. Brasilians and Costa Ricans (overall) like us and this place. So when one begins to make glaring comments, please defend/justify fully.

[Funseeker 22]

Of course at 6`5", you`re a little intimidating however probably a "pussycat" at heart. I was going to say a "softie" but decided that would not be true, according to those you have conquered.(lol) :)

[Guest Merlin]

You are right, I should have specified that the government is increasingly anti-American, not the people. Nevertheless, I think renting is more advisable than buying, because South American politics is so unpredictable.